The Best Makeup Tricks Only Beauty Editors Know

We admit it: Our job rules. We test the best of the best beauty products first, and we interview the most skilled and knowledgable makeup artists around the world. So after a few years (or months) working in this industry, you learn some pretty invaluable lessons that totally change your makeup game. Today we're in a sharing mood, and we're happy to pass on the knowledge. Some of these makeup tricks are things we've picked up on our own, and some are the secrets we've learned from pro makeup artists. Either way, you should take notes.

Hold off on the Q-tips when you get mascara on your lid. "If I get any stray mascara on my lid or lash line, instead of wetting a Q-tip and wiping the residue off, I wait for it to dry and then use a clean mascara wand to sweep it off my lid. It comes off super easily and I don’t mess up my shadow in the process." —Dana Burke, social media manager

Hack your mascara to create extra-dark eyeliner. "If you want superintense liner—like blacker than black—dip an angled liner brush into the deposit at the top of your mascara's wand and swipe it on top of (or in place of) your regular pencil liner." —Jessica Chia, senior beauty editor

Skip putting highlighter on the top of your nose. "When I took Mario Dedivanovic's Master Class, I learned that putting a dab of highlighter on the tip of your nose is not a good look. Dedivanovic says that this move 'doesn't work on 95 percent of people' since it actually will make your nose look longer and wider." —Renee Jacques, digital associate editor

Manipulate your liner to change your eye shape. "Susie Sobel once told me this: When lining your eyes, make the line thinner in the center and thicker toward the outer edges—of course with a tiny flick up and out at the end. It gives your eyes a sexy feline shape if that’s what you’re going for. If the liner is thick in the center as well, you get a rounder shape." —Lexi Novak, beauty editor

Foundation mixers are key for darker skin tones. "Sometimes when you're a darker skin tone, the foundation options are limited—they're either too dark, too chalky in texture, or too yellow. I will often buy a deeper, more sun-kissed shade that almost matches but is a bit darker and then get a product like NYX Pro Foundation Mixer. It has done wonders for me because in stores, the lighting may be too florescent and you think the foundation you’ve picked matches until you go outside. With this product, I can customize it to be a bit lighter and match my skin tone better."—Janell Hazelwood, associate digital research and copy editor

Organize yourself when you color correct. "On the days that I do decide to color correct, I designate different colored sponges to each shade of concealer. Believe it or not, it streamlines the process, and proves to be less messy than when you use one sponge for all of your colors."—Jesa Calaor, freelance beauty assistant

Try putting blush on before foundation. "Nick Barose once told me that I should apply a bright liquid or cream blush first and then a thin layer of foundation. It gives you a perfectly natural soft flush that won’t get splotchy or streaky (even in crazy August heat). Lately I’ve been putting the

Mix moisturizer with your foundation. "Adding moisturizer to your foundation on the back of your palm and then applying it with the Beautyblender Makeup Sponge gives you a nice glow."—Gerilyn Manago, senior social media manager

Always put concealer on your nose. "Everyone always applies concealer under the eye area to hide under-eye bags, but I find that using it to conceal the redness around my nose is also a pro move. I simply apply it with my non-dominant ring finger and I’m done in two minutes."—Deena Campbell, senior digital editor

Use highlighter strategically. "One of the things I see time and time again during fact checking is to make sure to apply highlighter sparingly on the face where the sun would naturally hit, rather than all-over. So now, I use a highlighter stick on the bridge of my nose, tops of my cheekbones, and brow bones. They also say the cupid’s bow. I don’t know if the light naturally hits there but I do love the effect!"—Lori Segal, research director

Pay attention to how you comb your eyelashes. "About six years ago when I was interviewing Mally Roncal of Mally Beauty, she taught me a simple, but effective mascara trick: When you want to open up your eyes and look youthful, comb your eyelashes towards your inner eye; when you want to look seductive, like an Italian screen siren, comb your hairs towards the outer corner. I still rely on this tip."—Simone Oliver, digital director